More details are emerging about the bells and whistles of the soon to be launched Chevy Volt electric car such as remote control capabilities via a smart phone. The mobile functionality which will be powered by OnStar will be available on the Droid, the iPhone and Blackberry smartphones.
Chevy Volt owners will be able to check how much of a charge is left on the car as well as a schedule or start a charge (assuming it's plugged in). Alerts can even be sent from the car to email about charging status .. very cool. Drivers can also lock and unlock the doors and start the AC or heating from up to a mile away.
The smartphone remote control features certainly won't be limited to the Chevy Volt. Nissan, Toyota and Ford are expected to provide similar functionality in their electric vehicles
Filed under Chevy Volt by on Jan 6th, 2010. Comment. 
The Tango electric car isn't one that garners much attention. Most are familiar with Tesla, Chevy Volt, Zap and maybe even Fisker, but the Tango electric car which is built by Commuter Cars Corp of Spokane, WA offers something a bit different by offering the speed and agility of a motorcycle while offering the safety and performance of a car. In fact, the car is narrower than some motorcycles, so lane splitting where permitted is legal! In terms of performance, the company claims it can achieve 0 – 60mph in 4 seconds and get up to a top speed of 130mph. In terms of safety, the electric car offers a roll cage certified for race cars traveling 200mph, but that's not going to help much if you're rear ended by a Hummer!
If you're thinking you'd like to purchase one of these gems, think again. In an article at CNN a few weeks ago, it was stated that the car costs in the neighborhood of $120K and their is a waiting list to get one. Apparently George Clooney is a fan and was the first to purchase the vehicle several years ago. The company hopes it can move into mass production and get the cost of the vehicle down to under $20K within a few years. The company counts Sergey Brin of Google as an investor. I look forward to following this company in the coming years and wish it much success.
The Tango Electric Car In Action
Filed under Tango Electric Car by on Nov 5th, 2009. Comment.
A question often heard is: Is vehicle propane conversion safe to use? The answer is that propane use in vehicles is very safe as long as you don’t have any leaks. The design of propane tanks is such that they crack and release the propane gas in case of an impact. They are designed to avoid a blow up and the walls of the vehicular propane tanks are also much thicker than gasoline tanks and can withstand extreme pressure and shock.
A complete vehicle propane conversion kit includes the fuel controller, valves, actuators, electronics, and the software needed to convert a vehicle to propane operation. There are two types of conversion kits on the market. The first one is an “Open Loop System”. This system does not control electronics and no feedback is provided to the controller on how well it is performing. The controller uses prior calibrations to determine what to do. The second one is the “Closed Loop System”. This system has an electronic sensor that provides continuous feedback to the fuel controller on how well it is performing, thereby "closing the feedback loop." Closed-loop conversion kits are generally more expensive than open-loop kits.
With few modifications to the engine, virtually any gasoline engine can be converted to run on liquid propane gas. Vehicles can be equipped to operate on propane only (dedicated conversion) or to switch between propane and gasoline (dual-fuel conversion). Propane tanks are designed to fit in the trunk of the car.
When considering a vehicle propane conversion kit, it is important to estimate the payback on your investment. This depends on the how much you use your car, the existing fuel economy of the car, the cost of the conversion kit, and maybe what the resale value of the car will be after the conversion. You can expect to pay anywhere between $1,500 and $2,500 for a conversion kit. This includes the installation.
You have to realize that the heavy propane tank will add some weight to your car, and thereby adding a little to the fuel consumption. However, you will recover that cost over time, as you will save up to 30% on the cost of fuel. Also, many states offer tax incentives to encourage the use of environment friendly fuels. This will reduce the cost of operating a liquid propane gas-powered vehicle even more.
Most manufacturers of vehicle propane conversion kits provide warranties, and some states have laws requiring that warranties have to accompany the sale of conversion kits. Make sure you check carefully what type of warranty is offered, and what it covers, before deciding on what propane conversion kit you will buy.
Vehicle Propane Conversion Kit Resources
Filed under Propane Conversion by on Aug 4th, 2008. Comment.
Recent Comments